Ann: Aurizon secures major national freight contract, page-137

FRom the ABC:

(I gather the Alice Springs to Darwin rail line may be closed for up to two weeks):

The Adelaide-Darwin rail line was closed between Katherine and Tennant Creek.

Supply chain disruption

Rail freight company Aurizon said localised flooding in the Carpentaria and Barkly regions had damaged the Adelaide-Darwin railway, about 50 kilometres north of Tennant Creek.

Flooding has occurred across the railway line north of Tennant Creek.(Supplied)

"Initial inspections indicate damage to several areas of track with the worst approximately 500 metres long caused by rising flood waters with significant rain expected to fall throughout the next few days," a spokesman said in a statement.

"Aurizon crews will undertake a detailed assessment as soon as they can safely access the track section."

The company said it would operate a rail shuttle between Adelaide and its Alice Springs terminal, to allow the transfer of freight onto trucks to be delivered north as soon as the Stuart Highway is reopened.

Major supermarkets Coles and Woolworths said they were working hard to replenish shelves in affected areas, as fresh produce shelves in locations including Darwin were bare on Sunday.

"There are some current challenges getting supplies into the Darwin area," a Coles spokesperson said.